Breeding peacocks at home: practical recommendations
Modern poultry farming is not limited to traditional bird species. Exotic destinations are gaining popularity, including breeding peacocks at home. These birds are famous for their magnificent plumage. The decorativeness of birds is the main reason for their keeping in personal plots.
Appearance and dimensions
In the silhouette, the birds stand out clearly:
- Small torso.
- Elongated neck.
- Small head with a tuft of feathers.
- Impressive wings.
Individuals are characterized by sexual dimorphism. The pavas are distinguished by their small size (about 1 m) and modest appearance. Their plumage is greenish-brown.
In males, body parameters are:
- length -1 -1.25 m;
- weight - 4-4.25 kg.
Feathers are cast in lilac-blue shades. The characteristic features of individuals of different sexes must be remembered in order to know how to distinguish a male peacock from a female.
Color
Peacocks are proud of their long feathers (over 200), which are mistaken for a tail.
The fan-shaped uppertail has:
- in length - 1.2-1.6 m;
- in width -2.5 m.
Peacocks, the breeding and maintenance of which is practiced in the CIS countries, belong to the common and Javanese varieties.
The color of their plumage is dominated by colors:
- blue;
- the black;
- white.
In total, there are more than 10 options for color combinations.
Peacock breeding history, their economic value
A bird with amazing plumage has been tamed by humans long ago. They are mainly kept for beauty.
Stages of domestication
Peacocks were domesticated by the Hindus in ancient times. They were often kept in temples, since the bird is considered sacred by admirers of Hinduism. In the Roman Empire, dishes made from peacock tongues were a delicacy. The presence of a bird with a luxurious tail in the yard was a sign of wealth.
During the Middle Ages, there was also a demand for peacock meat and feathers. From the multi-colored tail plumage, plumes were made for knightly helmets, and the meat was used for cooking. After the discovery of the American continent, the Europeans adopted the tradition of growing turkeys, which quickly drove the Asian peacocks out of the farmsteads.
Products
The bird is difficult to classify as meat breeds. The carcass is very small, up to 4 kg in weight. The meat is harsh, without rich taste. It is rarely used in cooking. To obtain meat products, males who have reached 2 years of age are used.
The egg-bearing productivity of females is low. In season 1, an individual lays no more than 30 eggs. Their nutritional value (700 kcal) is 4.5 times higher than that of chicken. Gastronomes note the taste of peacock eggs: delicate white and large yolk.
Pea eggs should not be eaten fresh, as there is a risk of contracting salmonellosis.
The beautiful long feathers of the rainbow bird are in steady demand. Not only the tail part of the plumage is involved, but also the feathers from the wings and body. They are used in their natural form or dyed.
The main reason why peacocks are bred is to get young animals for sale. Buy birds or create your own incubator, or as a living decoration of the infield. Individuals over 3 years old have the most spectacular appearance.
Conditions of detention
Breeding peacocks as a business requires knowledge of their biology and physiology, strict adherence to the rules of maintenance, clear planning and cost calculation. Poultry breeders need to prepare an aviary in advance and build a house for feathered inhabitants.
In their natural environment, birds can live up to 15 years. How long peacocks live at home depends on care. Centenarians reach 25 years.
Despite the fact that in the wild, peacocks are inhabitants of the tropical jungle, they adapt well to temperate climates. The birds easily endure frosts down to -5 C. In the steppe and forest-steppe zones, birds are able to be outdoors all year round. However, they still need a fenced aviary, since peacocks have an quarrelsome disposition and will engage in fights with other domestic animals.
Birds emit a sharp, piercing cry, so it is better to take the place for keeping peacocks in the personal plot away from living quarters.
Place to stay
The area for the aviary and the size of the house depend on the number of birds. Usually a 5 by 5 meter area is allocated for the corral. A wire fence is stretched around it up to a height of 3 m. The presence of a canopy from above is mandatory, otherwise the birds will fly out. Perches are made at a distance of one and a half meters from the ground. A lower height is unacceptable, as the tail could be damaged. According to this principle, aviary for the peacocks the photo is presented.
For the manufacture of a perch, strong bars are used, having a section of 5 by 10 cm. The upper part of the poles should be flat. This shape helps to create the most comfortable conditions for the sitting bird. Its paws securely cover the feathers and prevent them from freezing in the cold.
The bottom of the enclosure is covered with a thick layer (8-10 cm) of shell rock or sand. They are pre-calcined for disinfection. To clean the plumage, birds need ash; for it, a plot of up to 1 square meter is allocated in the pen. m. A feeder and a drinking bowl are placed in the aviary.
The poultry house where the pets live is adjacent to the walk. Houses are being built with dimensions of 2 by 3 or 5 by 3 meters. Each pair is accommodated in a separate box. Perches and nests are attached inside. The floor in the compartment is covered with a mat, which is changed as it gets dirty. Straw sprinkled with lime is used as a bedding material. Lime absorbs moisture and prevents rapid decay of the filler straw.
The role of nests in a peacock dwelling is played by baskets or wooden boxes.
The most suitable are trays with sizes:
- length - 0.6 m;
- width - 0.5 m;
- depth - 0.7 m.
Straw bedding is placed inside or sawdust is poured.
Peacocks feeding
An important condition for breeding peacocks at home is proper nutrition. The diet of birds should contain all the substances necessary for normal life. Practices 2 times daily feeding. The morning menu consists of wet food (400 g). The evening meal includes cereal mixes (200 g). In total, the daily ration is 600 g. During the mating season (September), the daily rate is increased and divided into 3 portions.
Peacocks peck with pleasure corn, oatmeal, sunflower cake. For the preparation of wet food, vegetables, herbs, food waste are used: boiled potatoes, porridge, bread, dandelions, nettle, clover, and alfalfa. In winter, the lack of greenery is replenished with sprouted grain. To make it convenient for birds to eat food, all ingredients are crushed. It is useful to add lime, chalk, salt to food.
Every 3 months, deworming is carried out to rid the birds of internal parasites. The medicinal products used are preparations intended for livestock.
Chicks need vitamin mixtures for active growth and weight gain. They are also given cottage cheese, ground bran, small worms. Birds must have constant access to clean drinking water.
Breeding peacocks at home
For the purpose of breeding peacocks at home, experienced poultry farmers advise acquiring individuals no older than 2 years of age. To create full-fledged families, the proportions are adhered to: 1 male to 5 females. Rarely a 2: 6 ratio is allowed.
When choosing young animals, one must be careful not to make a mistake with the color. Plumage acquires a stable color at 2 years. The color scheme is inherited from the parents. When crossing individuals of different shades, up to 185 variations in feather coloration can be achieved.
Until sexually mature peacocks need to be raised for several years and be prepared for the difficulties of obtaining offspring. Future breeders need to know at what age peacocks begin to rush. In males, reproductive age occurs at 2-3 years, in females at 2 years. For 1 mating cycle, the pava lays about 30 eggs.
The mating season covers the entire warm season (March-August). Birds form pairs. After mating, the peacocks begin to molt. The dropped feathers are collected and sold for an average of 35 rubles. a piece. If you wish, you can make a variety of souvenirs and decorations from them.
Incubation, young growth
After laying eggs, the female often forgets about them, so there are difficulties in obtaining offspring. The hatching peacock egg is placed for incubation of other poultry. Many breeders also use special chambers where the required thermal regime is maintained (+ 37.2-37.7 ° C).
Pecking begins on the 28-29th day. Chicks are covered with feathers from birth. However, at first they must be kept at a temperature of + 36 ° C. Heating is gradually reduced by 2-3 ° per week. Pava takes care of the young. At the age of 1 month, the sex of the chicks is determined, and at 8 months they are seated in separate boxes.
Growing peacocks at home often turns into a full-fledged business. Taking them requires a significant investment (about 200 thousand rubles). The money is spent on the purchase of young animals or eggs, the purchase of feed and bedding, and electricity. Exotic poultry farming becomes profitable in 5-7 years. On average, 1 adult individual allows you to get over $ 100 in net profit.